JRepott  of-tbe 
deputation  to  the 
jfar  East,  X907 


n)6.  Tsioi..' 


Bmetican  ^Baptist  /flbidefonats  xnnion 
^orO  JSutlOtng,  JBoston,  il&aeaacbusette 


INTRODUCTORY 


IN  company  with  Corresponding  Secretary  Henry  C. 

Mabie,  D.  D.,  and  Rev.  M.  D.  Eubank,  M.  D.,  of  the 
East  China  Mission,  fourteen  ministers  and  laymen  from 
different  parts  of  the  country  visited  China  and  Japan 
last  spring,  for  the  purpose  of  viewing  for  themselves  the 
work  done  by  our  missionaries,  as  well  as  the  opportunities 
presented  for  larger  service  in  the  lands  where  they  are 
working.  The  visit  originated  in  the  wide  interest  awak- 
ened among  individuals  and  churches  in  present  condi- 
tions in  the  East,  and  the  special  occasion  of  their  jour- 
ney was  the  Morrison  Centenary  Conference  at  Shanghai, 
China,  commemorating  the  one  hundredth  anniversary 
of  the  beginning  of  Protestant  missionary  effort  in  the 
Chinese  Empire  by  Robert  Morrison.  The  laymen,  be- 
sides representing  the  Missionary  Union,  were  also  mem- 
bers of  the  Centennial  Commission  of  the  Laymen’s  Mis- 
sionary Movement.  Several  wives  and  other  women 
accompanied  the  party,  making  our  Baptist  delegation 
the  largest  of  any  in  attendance  at  the  conference.  The 
members  of  the  deputation  visited  our  missions  in  East 
and  Central  China  and  Japan.  They  also  met  some  of  the 
missionaries  from  South  China  and  the  Philippines. 

Twelve  of  the  fourteen  ministers  and  laymen  traveled 
together  most  of  the  time,  and  by  request  of  the  Execu- 
tive Committee  they  have  submitted  the  subjoined  report. 
This,  with  the  recommendations  which  it  includes,  has 
been  carefully  considered  by  the  Committee  and  will  be 
submitted  to  the  Board  of  Managers.  It  does  not  exag- 
gerate the  powerful  appeal  which  the  new  conditions  in 
the  lands  visited,  as  well  as  conditions  in  other  great 
fields  in  which  the  work  of  the  Union  is  conducted,  present 
to  those  upon  whom  its  work  is  dependent. 


REPORT  OF  THE  DEPUTATION 
TO  THE  FAR  EAST  1907 

The  Executive  Committee  of  the  American  Baptist 

Missionary  Union,  Boston,  Mass. 

Gentlemen: — In  accordance  with  the  request 
made  in  your  letter  of  March  i,  and  addressed  to 
us  as  representatives  of  the  Missionary  Union,  and 
also  in  fulfilment  of  our  commission  as  clergymen 
and  laymen  representing  directly  and  by  appoint- 
ment certain  Baptist  churches  and  Baptist  organiza- 
tions of  the  United  States,  we  submit  to  you  an 
account  of  the  impressions  received  and  the  convic- 
tions formed  by  us,  based  upon  our  personal  obser- 
vations during  our  visit  to  oriental  lands,  together 
with  such  recommendations  as  our  inquiries  and 
investigations  have  convinced  us  are  important  and 
necessary  to  be  made. 

Our  visit  to  the  mission  fields  in  China  and  Japan 
has  been  brief  but  comprehensive.  During  the  pas- 
sage across  the  Pacific  we  were  favored  by  the  pres- 
ence on  the  steamer  of  a large  number  of  mission- 
aries and  missionary  secretaries.  Through  the  media 
of  public  lectures  twice  each  day,  and  by  many  con- 
versations and  consultations  with  individuals  and 
with  groups  of  men  who  are  thoroughly  conversant 
with  conditions  and  needs  on  the  foreign  fields,  as 
well  as  by  frequent  discussions  among  ourselves, 
we  were  prepared  for  an  intelligent  consideration  of 
the  problems  of  work  in  the  general  field. 


3 


We  have  visited  Japan  and  China;  w^e  have  met 
and  held  personal  interviews  with  hundreds  of  mis- 
sionaries ; we  have  inspected  hospitals,  schools  and 
chapels ; we  have  seen  our  own  Baptist  missionaries 
at  work  upon  their  fields ; we  have  talked  with  them 
and  with  native  preachers  and  teachers ; we  have 
studied  the  mission  work  of  other  denominations  in 
various  localities ; we  have  held  prolonged  confer- 
ences with  the  representatives  of  the  Missionary- 
Union  laboring  in  Japan,  East  China,  Central  China, 
South  China  and  the  Philippines ; and  we  have  at- 
tended the  gatherings  of  the  Centenary  Conference 
in  Shanghai. 

We  are  profoundly  impressed  with  the  loyalty 
and  genuine  consecration  of  our  missionaries.  They 
are  laboring  today  in  heroic  and  self-denying  activ- 
ity in  the  service  of  the  Master.  Though  they  live 
their  lives  in  the  midst  of  the  strongholds  of  sin 
and  superstition ; though  surrounded  by  difficul- 
ties and  perplexities  of  the  most  trying  character ; 
though  constantly  encountering  problems  which  tax 
both  brain  and  heart,  these  servants  of  the  King  are 
animated  by  the  spirit  of  faith  and  true  courage. 
They  are  proving  themselves  worthy  in  the  highest 
degree  of  the  confidence  of  all  Christians,  and  are 
exemplifying  in  their  service  the  spirit  of  our  glo- 
rious Lord. 

We  wish  also  to  record  our  appreciation  of  the 
faithful  work  of  the  Missionary  Union  in  the  face  of 
such  conditions  as  have  seldom,  if  ever,  been  hith- 


4 


erto  encountered  by  missionary  boards  on  foreign 
fields.  This  is  especially  true  of  the  work  in  the 
Chinese  Empire,  where  the  uncertain  and  vacillating 
methods  of  the  government,  as  well  as  the  conserva- 
tive attitude  and  unresponsive  character  of  the  peo- 
ple, have  presented  at  times,  in  this  epoch  of  early 
development  in  missionary  endeavor,  situations  of 
unprecedented  seriousness  and  intricacy.  We  real- 
ize that  continued  patience,  prudence  and  devotion 
have  distinguished  the  Executive  Committee  and 
the  officers  in  charge  of  the  administration  of  our 
missionary  enterprise. 

THE  FIELD  AND  ITS  OPPORTUNITIES 

Day  by  day  in  our  travels  and  investigations  we 
have  realized  profoundly  the  fact  of  the  beginning  of 
a great  awakening  in  China.  Never  in  the  history  of 
this  empire,  from  the  days  of  Morrison  until  now, 
has  there  been  manifest  such  genuine  interest  in 
Christian  missions  by  the  official  and  influential 
classes,  as  well  as  by  the  masses  of  the  people.  The 
door  is  open.  The  mind  of  the  Orient  is  alert.  The 
heart  of  the  East  is  filling  with  a new  affection. 
The  gospel  has  really  gained  a strong  foothold  in 
all  parts  of  China.  Until  recently  it  was  difficult  to 
give  away  copies  of  the  Scriptures.  Now  the  Old 
and  New  Testaments  are  largely  purchased  and  read 
by  thousands  of  men  and  women  of  China.  The 
missionary  has  been  the  pioneer,  and  is  today  the 
leader  in  the  introduction  of  all  that  is  best  in 


5 


Western  civilization  to  the  nations  of  the  Orient. 
The  Boxer  Movement  accomplished  more  than  any 
other  single  event  has  done  to  open  the  Chinese 
mind  to  the  claims  of  Christianity.  The  object  les- 
son afforded  by  the  martyrdom  of  thousands  of  na- 
tive Christians,  who  suffered  death  in  consequence 
of  their  refusal  to  recant  or  abjure  the  principles  of 
our  most  holy  religion,  has  made  an  ineradicable 
impression  upon  all  thoughtful  Chinese  people. 

In  Japan  the  men  of  vision  are  coming  to  under- 
stand that  religion  alone,  that  only  the  one  true 
true  religion,  can  bulwark  their  nation  in  effective 
and  abiding  strength.  On  every  hand  one  meets 
expectancy  and  hope.  It  is  a time  of  vast  changes 
and  swift  promise.  We  are  convinced  that  never 
before  in  the  history  of  the  nations  of  the  earth  has 
the  Christian  Church  faced  such  difficulties  and  such 
opportunities.  It  behooves  the  forces  of  Jesus  Christ 
to  be  up  and  doing.  One  hundred  years  of  seed 
sowing,  of  prayers  and  tears,  of  gifts  of  both  men 
and  money,  have  whitened  into  a harvest  for  God 
and  truth. 

THE  GENERAL  NEEDS 

I.  In  view  of  these  facts,  and  as  a result  of  our 
study  of  conditions,  we  are  firmly  convinced  that 
our  entire  missionary  enterprise  in  the  East  must  be 
established  upon  a larger  and  more  progressive 
basis.  Our  equipment  and  our  working  force  must 
be  immediately  increased  in  order  that  we  may  meet 
the  pressing  demands  which  confront  us.  Inten- 

6 


sively  and  extensively  a more  aggressive  policy 
should  be  inaugurated.  In  our  educational  and  med- 
ical work  we  are  occupying  a position  lamentably 
inferior  to  that  of  other  great  church  organizations. 

2.  There  is  heed  also  of  more  complete  coopera- 
tion among  the  missionaries  on  the  respective  fields. 
Under  existing  conditions  any  policy  of  isolated  and 
independent  effort  in  individual  fields  is  sure  to 
result  in  inefficiency  and  failure.  The  way  of 
strength  lies  in  combination  and  coordination. 

3.  In  connection  with  this  inauguration  of  a 
broader  policy  at  home  and  a more  effective  coop- 
eration abroad,  we  desire  to  emphasize  the  necessity 
for  a close  supervision  of  the  entire  field.  We  there- 
fore most  strongly  recommend  the  appointment  by 
the  Missionary  Union  of  at  least  one  superintendent 
of  missions  for  China,  Japan  and  the  Philippines. 
There  are  administrative  problems  of  the  most  deli- 
cate and  severe  character  in  connection  with  our 
work  in  these  countries  at  the  present  time.  Our 
able  and  efficient  Secretaries  are  untiring  in  their 
zeal  and  effort ; but  the  simple  fact  which  we  must 
consider  is  the  utter  impossibility,  under  existing 
conditions,  of  managing  the  work  of  these  many  and 
important  missions  from  a base  of  operations  8,000 
miles  away.  Intimate  personal  contact  with  the  mis- 
sionaries and  their  fields  on  the  part  of  the  Execu- 
tive Committee  through  a chosen  representative  is 
vitally  necessary. 

It  is  essential,  in  our  view,  that  a strong  man, 


7 


gifted  with  the  finest  executive  powers,  should  be 
placed  in  this  field.  Even  to  delay  this  matter  for 
a year  or  so  would  mean  peril.  The  superintendent 
should  spend  at  least  nine  months  of  each  year  in 
the  territory  under  his  care.  He  should  know  thor- 
oughly the  peculiar  needs  of  each  section.  He  should 
counsel  with  individual  missionaries  at  their  respec- 
tive stations.  He  should  meet  in  conference  groups 
of  men  representing  the  various  fields.  He  should 
confer  with  the  reference  committees  and  other  local 
organizations.  He  should  be  constantly  alert  and 
anxious  to  receive  such  information  and  instruction 
as  the  experience  of  the  missionaries  will  supply, 
and  use  it  wisely  in  the  prosecution  of  his  tasks.  He 
should  suggest  plans  of  enlargement,  outline  meth- 
ods of  work,  and  secure  more  hearty  and  complete 
cooperation  among  missionaries  whose  spheres  of 
labor  are  contiguous.  He  should  encourage  and  in- 
spire workers  in  isolated  and  remote  districts. 

4.  In  every  department  of  the  field  from  which  we 
have  heard  reports  there  is  manifest  a crying  need 
for  educational  advance.  In  order  that  the  mission- 
aries, through  the  presence  and  employment  of  a 
larger  force  of  trained  natives,  may  themselves  have 
more  time  for  reading  and  study  on  the  one  hand, 
and  for  broad  and  constructive  executive  work  on 
the  other;  in  order  that  the  number  of  native 
preachers  may  be  greatly  increased ; in  order  that 
the  native  churches  may  be  guided  towards  self- 
support  ; in  order  that,  through  the  growth  of  the 

8 


stronger  churches  toward  a condition  of  self-sup- 
port and  their  increasing  independence,  the  weaker 
churches  and  new  interests  may  be  developed ; in 
order  that  a more  virile  and  intelligent  type  of  Chris- 
tian character  may  be  everywhere  secured,  and  for 
many  other  reasons,  it  is  necessary  that  the  elemen- 
tary schools,  the  boarding  schools,  the  academies 
and  the  training  schools  should  be  reenforced,  and 
that  first  class  colleges  should  be  established  and 
vigorously  manned  in  the  near  future. 

5.  In  view  of  the  fact  that  the  cost  of  living  in 
Eastern  countries  has  greatly  increased  within  the 
past  few  years,  and  in  view,  also,  of  the  fluctuation 
in  the  rates  of  exchange,  we  believe  that  the  salaries 
of  the  missionaries  in  active  service  should  be  sub- 
stantially increased.  We  suggest  also  that  the  whole 
question  of  salaries  of  missionaries,  both  on  the  field 
and  on  furlough,  be  considered  anew  by  the  Execu- 
tive Committee.  We  believe  it  to  be  important  that 
the  policy  of  graded  salaries  be  carried  much  further 
than  at  present,  and  that  the  size  of  the  missionary’s 
family,  the  extent  of  his  preparation  for  his  work 
and  the  character  of  his  service  be  some  of  the 
determining  factors  in  the  fixing  of  salaries. 

SPECIFIC  RECOMMENDATIONS 

In  addition  to  the  general  needs  which  apply  more 
or  less  fully  to  the  entire  territory  under  considera- 
tion, we  beg  leave  to  submit  the  following  specific 
recommendations : 


e 


1.  We  recommend  that  the  reports  from  our  fields 
in  East  China,  South  China  and  Central  China,  here- 
with submitted,  and  containing  detailed  estimates 
of  the  amounts  necessary  to  establish  these  missions 
upon  a stronger  and  more  effective  basis,  receive 
your  very  thoughtful  consideration. 

2.  We  recommend  that  the  territory  called  the 
Szyap  country,  between  Hongkong  and  Canton, 
whose  needs  will  we  understand  be  brought  to  your 
notice  by  the  Foreign  Mission  Board  of  the  South- 
ern Baptist  Convention,  be  occupied  as  soon  as  pos- 
sible by  the  Missionary  Union,  such  a strategic 
movement  being  essential  to  the  proper  expansion 
of  our  influence  in  South  China. 

3.  We  recommend  that  the  proposition  of  the 
China  Baptist  Publication  Society  in  Canton,  carry- 
ing with  it  a plan  of  union  with  the  southern  Bap- 
tists in  publication  work,  be  approved,  and  that  the 
necessary  appropriations  be  made  by  the  Executive 
Committee. 

4.  We  recommend  that  the  missionaries  in  Japan 
be  requested  to  submit  to  the  Executive  Committee 
a unified  and  carefully  coordinated  plan  of  activity, 
and  an  estimate  of  the  amount  required  to  place  our 
entire  work  in  that  country  on  a broader  and  more 
satisfactory  basis.  We  further  recommend  that  the 
special  attention  of  the  Executive  Committee  be 
given  to  this  field. 

5.  We  recommend  that  the  work  of  medical  mis- 
sions be  enlarged.  We  are  convinced  that  in  order 


10 


to  attain  due  effectiveness  we  must  provide  more 
liberally  for  this  phase  of  missionary  endeavor.  Our 
need  is  not  so  much  a question  of  big  hospitals  as  of 
hospitals  well  equipped.  Medical  missions  under 
wise  management  are  proving  to  be  a most  import- 
ant means  of  helping  and  interesting  the  people.  We 
believe  that  any  plan  which  contemplates  the  giving 
of  medical  education  to  the  Chinese  should  be  con- 
ducted as  a union  movement. 

APPEAL  FOR  A CENTENNIAL  CAMPAIGN 

In  order  that  it  may  be  possible  to  meet  the  needs 
to  which  we  have  called  attention,  and  carry  out  in 
full  the  recommendations  submitted  by  us,  we  ask 
that  a campaign  be  immediately  undertaken  in  the 
entire  field  of  our  Baptist  constituency  in  the  north- 
ern states,  and  that  by  every  possible  means  the 
claims  of  the  Orient  be  made  known  to  our  people. 
In  view  of  the  recent  Centenary  Conference  we  urge 
that,  in  addition  to  any  other  campaign  for  funds 
that  may  now  be  under  consideration,  plans  be  laid 
and  most  vigorous  efforts  be  put  forth  for  securing 
a fund  of  half  a million  dollars  to  be  known  as  the 
Centennial  Fund,  for  the  adequate  equipment  of  our 
missionary  enterprise  in  China,  Japan  and  the  Phil- 
ippine Islands.  We  also  recommend  that  by  means 
of  personal  interviews ; parlor  conferences ; public 
meetings ; special  sessions  at  ministerial  conferences, 
associational  gatherings  and  state  conventions ; ser- 
vices of  prayer  and  missionary  rallies  in  churches 


11 


and  elsewhere,  as  well  as  by  such  other  means  as 
may  suggest  themselves,  the  crucial  importance  of 
this  undertaking  be  set  forth  vividly  and  powerfully. 
We  recommend  also  that  by  hearty  cooperation  with 
the  Laymen’s  Missionary  Movement  the  sympathy 
and  the  interest  of  the  business  and  professional  men 
of  our  denomination  be  definitely  enlisted  in  behalf 
of  the  Christianization  of  the  Orient. 

In  view  of  this  visit  to  the  East,  we  stand  ready 
as  individuals  to  cooperate  most  heartily  with  the 
Executive  Committee.  In  this  prosecution  of  any 
plans  which  may  be  adopted,  having  for  their  aim 
the  conduct  of  the  campaign  such  as  has  been  rec- 
ommended, we  will  gladly  assist  to  the  extent  of 
our  ability. 

Yours  faithfully, 

AUSTEN  K.  DE  BLOIS,  Chicago,  111. 

EDWARD  H.  HASKELL,  Boston,  Mass. 

WILLIAM  H.  WAITE,  Providence,  R.  I. 

EDWIN  S.  OSGOOD,  Chicago,  111. 

J.  HENRY  HASLAM,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 

FRANK  A.  SMITH,  Haddonfield,  N.  J. 

JOHN  W.  LYELL,  Camden,  N.  J. 

DAVID  P.  LEAS,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 

MAURICE  PENFIELD  FIKES,  Franklin,  Pa. 

LLEWELLYN  L.  HENSON,  Providence,  R.  I. 

C.  H.  WATSON,  Arlington,  Mass. 

S.  W.  WOODWARD,  Washington,  D.  C. 

The  Astor  House,  Shanghai,  China,  May  3,  1907. 


675-1  Ed.-3m-November  1907 


12 


